Stories 2016

Jan Gunnar Hoff

Record Details

Released:
2016
Genre:
Jazz

Jan Gunnar Hoff´s 3rd solo album for 2L and Morten Lindberg

Stories is Jan Gunnar Hoff’s third solo piano album on the 2L label and is a sequel to his critically acclaimed album LIVING from 2013. On the new release Hoff stretches his creative abilities, presenting contrasting compositions and improvisations, in a distinctly personal mixture. Some of the pieces are meditative and expressive, while others have a strong rhythmic vibe. Stories also displays Hoff as an arranger, presenting versions of classics like “God Only Knows” and the traditional Swedish folk song “Värmlandsvisan”.

Jan Gunnar Hoff about Stories – “Music for me, as pianist and composer, is a quest for depth and a quest to find a bridge between my emotions and the piano. When I begin I am uncertain about where the journey will take me and how it will end. It is important that compositions and improvisations constitute a natural whole. And classic songs like “God Only Knows” are stories and they must be told in a personal manner. Putting it all together in an album is exciting and rewarding.”

REVIEWS:

Audiophile Sound, Italy: “Artistic Judgement: excellent, Technical View: exceptional”

The Vinyl Anachronist: “This wavering between pure improvisation and surreptitious homage make Stories one of the most rewarding solo piano works I’ve heard in some time”

Audiophile Audition: “The whole program is a remarkably satisfying hour’s listening..recordings of the piano do not come better than this; it really is a stunningly good sound whether auditioned via Pure Audio Blu-ray or through SACD”

Jazz in Norway (Terje Mosnes): “In every way a pianistic delight to the ear”

Hammerø: “Soundscape full of temperament, dynamics, harmony and melodic championship”

Stereo+: “Pure reference”

Review Avisa Nordland

Link to 2L presentation

Full cred list Discogs

  1. City Z (2018) Jan Gunnar Hoff Group feat Mike Stern 4:23
  2. Some Day (2018) Jan Gunnar Hoff Group feat Mike Stern 6:33
  3. Common Ground (2018) Jan Gunnar Hoff Group feat Mike Stern 7:39
  4. Living (Losen records 2014) Hoff, Mazur, Henriksen, Jormin 6:54
  5. FLY NORTH (Losen 2013) Hoff - Jormin - Mazur - Henriksen
  6. Beginning Hoff Ensemble: Jan Gunnar Hoff, Audun Kleive & Anders Jormin 3:14